Rotor



C. E. TACK JuneY 6, 1944.

ROTOR 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept C. E. TACK June 6, 1944.

ROTOR Filed Sept. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BY Uf-ZETQZ/,

June 6, 1944. c. E. TACK 2,350,970

RoToR l Filed Sepp. 8, 1941 s sheets-sheet s INVENTOR. BY @aff TaakPatented June 6, 1944 KOTOR Carl E. Tack, Chicago, lll., to AmericanSteel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporationof New Jersey ApplicationSeptember 8, 1941, Serial No. 409,999

14 Claims. (Cl. 18s-218) My invention relates to brake equipment andparticularly to a novel form of rotor designed to be associated withother braking means commonly called stators whose Vengagement with saidrotor is commonly utilized as a means of stopping a wheel or otherrotating member.

My novel rotor is particularly adaptedfor use with railway rolling stockand is so illustrated, although it will be understood that such a rotormay be utilized for any equivalent purpose for which it may be readilyadapted.

In the present development of olf-wheel brakes for railway rollingstock', it has been found necessary to develop a particularly rigidrotor capable of dissipating a tremendous amount of heat energy in orderto afford stopping means for present day high speed trains.

The general object of my invention is to devise a rotor which will beeminently satisfactory for such a purpose and wherein the requiredstrength as wefl as the heat'. dissipating qualities will be aorded andwhich at the same time will readily meet practical requirements ofmanufacture as well as necessary operating conditions.

A specific object of my invention is to devise such a rotor comprising adisc-like support which may readily be fastened to the hub of a wheeland serve as carrying means for a brake ring, said brake ring comprisinga double blower in which the respective blowers are effective as in acirculating cooling means for braking surfaces at opposite sides of thering.

A different object of my invention is to devise such a rotor as abovedescribed wherein the stresses resulting from compression of said rotorbetween engaging stators will be reduced to a minimum well withinpractical limits.

Yet another object of my invention is to form such a novel rotorstructure wherein the parts will be so proportioned as to reduce to aminimum the weight of the rotor structure as a whole, while at the sametime, so disposing the elements thereof as to meet the maximum stressconditions encountered in use and also permitting convenientmanufacturing practice.

My invention also comprehends such an arrangement as that describedwherein the central web or supportnig disc of the rotor may be fixed onthe wheel in such a manner as to prevent eccentricities thereof undernormal operating conditions.

Yet another object of my invention is to devise a novel form of rotorsuch as above described :gr dissipation of the heat normally developeduse. v My invention also contemplates a novel rotor f structure whereinthe friction element comprises wherein maximum radiating area will beafforded spaced integrally formed rings, certain of said rings affordinga means of connection to the supporting disc or central web. while atthe same time. serving as a,means of dividing said friction ring intotwo blowers independently eil'ective to cool the respective frictionareas at cpposite sidesiof said friction ring.

My invention also has as an object a-construction of a novel rotor `suchas that last referred to wherein the ring connected to the central webor support disc may have a relatively short radial diameter as comparedwith the friction rings at opposite sides thereof so that the coolingmedium drawn from opposite sides of the rotor may be mixed between thefriction rings thereof to afford maximum turbulence and cooling effect.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel form of rotor.

Figure 2 is an edge view taken from the left as seen in Figure 1 with aportion-cut away along the radial planes indicated by the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectionaliview throughv a fragmentary portion of a wheeland axle assembly showing the manner of mounting my novel rotor thereon,said rotor being shown in section with the section taken substantiallyin the plane indicated by the line t3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows an alternate manner of mounting my novel rotor on anassociated wheel.

Figure 5 shows an alternate form of friction ring and blower which I mayutilize in my novel form of rotor.

Figure 6 is a detailed view in side elevation of my novel form Vofcentral disc or rotor support member, and Figures 7 and 8 are sectionalviews therethrough, the view of Figure 7 being taken along the radial'planes indicated by the lines 1-1 of Figure 6, andthe view of Figure 8along the radial plane indicated bythe line 8-8 of Figure 6. L 1

My novel rotor is shown invdetail in Figures 1 and 2 and may bedescribed as comprising a rotor support generally designated y2,","saidrotor support being of disc-like form including a hub portion 4integrally formed with a bell-like member 6. the shape of which is bestvindicated in the sectional views of Figures 2 and aand the outerperimeter of which may be formedto a ytaper as indicated at 8 (Figure 3)for support of the rotor generally designated Ill which may be casttherearound. Reference will be made hereafter in greater detail tothe'rotor support member 2. The rotor I6 is an integral castingcomprising three spaced plates, each of annular form and arranged inparallel planes, the central plate I2 being substantially thickened asat I4 (Figure 3) in order to form a vsolid connection with the outerperimeter of' the bell-like portion 6 of the rotor support. 'I'herelatively thick portion I4 of the plate I2 may project radiallyinwardly relieved as indicated at III. SII (Figure 3) in a mannersimilar to the form of the outer edges thereof. The structure of theblades at opposite sides of the rotor "contemplates such an arrangementas willi afford equal cooling capacity the blades 26.. 26 is similarto'and performs the of the lateral friction plates I6 and Il which maybe disposed at opposite sides thereof for engagement in the usuallmanner with stator members -(not shown). and I6 are relatively thick ascompared with the central support plate I2, said friction plates I6 andIl being disposed at equal distances on opposite sides of the centralsupport plate or mount.. ing plate I2. Integrally joining the centralplate I2 with the friction plates I6 and I6 on opposite sides thereofare a `series of equally spacedblades 20, 2II, said kblades beingequally spaced The friction plates I6- around the rotor withapproximately four de- Y grees between adjacent blades as illustrated inthe present embodiment. The blades joining the central plate I2 with thefrictionlplates I6 and Il are arranged in parallel planes so that two ofthe blades 20, 20 serve as a column for resisting the braking pressuresapplied to the braking surfaces 22 and 24 at opposite sides of therotor. The manner in which the blades 26, 2l at opposite sides of therotor are placed in pairs, each pair forming a column between thefriction plates at opposite sides of the rotor is illustrated in theview of Figure 2, immediately above the middle thereof, where the outerextremities or edges of the bladesare clearly shown aligned at oppositesides of the rotor.

, While the friction plates I6 and I6 are relatively thick as comparedwith the central support plate I2, it is contemplated that a substantialportion of the thickness of each of the friction plates will be' wornaway in use and that each of said plates may be worn down to a thicknesscomparable to that of the central plate I2 without undue stress of thestructure illustrated. It may be noted that in my novel structure thepressure applied at the friction surfaces 22 and 24 at opposite sides ofthe rotor is evenly distributed among the blades 26, 26 which are evenlydisposed about the oircuference of the rotor as already vdescribed andinasmuch as the blades 20, 2|! at opposite sides of the rotor arealigned with each other thus forming a column across the rotor with eachpai-r of blades and with the columns thus formed evenly disposed aroundthe rotor, 1 I am able to calculatequite accurately the stresses towhich my novel rotor may be safely' subjected.V In'this particularstructure, the space lbetween adjacent columns as indicated A (Figure'2)is subjected to bending stresses as a result of the brakingpresfunctions of a rotary type of blower so that when the rotor is innormal operation, rotating at a relatively high rate of speed,peripheral force acts to throw outwardly the air between the blades andthus to draw air into slots or openings I2, 32 between adjacent blades,said air being ydrawn into the spaces at opposite sides of the rotor insubstantially equal volume inboard and outboard ofy the rotor supportmember 2.

Figure 3 illustrates the manner of mounting my novel rotor to the hub ofa wheel generally designated 64 and comprising a hub I6 which may bepress-fitted as at 36 onthe axle 46 inboard theljournal end 42. The hub26 may be machine flnished about its outer perimeter at the outboardedge in order to afford an exact concentric fit as at 44 with the borewhich may be machined on the inboard face of the hub portion 4 of therotor, said bore being defined by the annular flange 46 at the outerperimeter of said hub portion. 'I'his manner of providing an exactconcentricity of the rotor with the wheel is important when it isdesired to maintain a relatively small wheel hub diameter. If a largerwheel hub diameter is to be utilized with regard to the rotor structure,a manner of connection sure as applied and the portion of the flrictioni' Each of the blades -20 is relieved at its outer edge as at 26, andthe friction plates I6 and I 6 as well as the central plate-I2 maybe.smoothly finished to an identical outside diameter, while the frictionplates I6 and I6 may be finished as at 26, 26 to an identical insidediameter; The

similar in principle may be utilized as illustrated in Figure iy wherethe rotor hub member 46 is formed with a bore defined by a flange 66about its inner perimeter for concentric fit as at 62 with a groovemachined about the wheel hub 64 adjacent the inner perimeter thereof, atits outboard edge and relieved as at 66 from the supporting axlefragmentarily shown at 58. In the modification of Figure 4 securing studbolts 66, 60 may be utilized to fix the rotor on the wheel hub and asimilar securing means 60, 66 may be utilized in the modificationillustrated in Figure 3. As illustrated in Figure 1, the rotor supportmember 2 has formed about its'inner perimeter equally spaced lugs 62, 62which may be drilled as at 64, 64 for reception of the beforementionedsecuring bolts `6I), 66. Between the flugs 62, 62 may be formed relievedareas 66, 66 thus reducing substantially the weight of the casting andat the same time aording convenient sections for modern foundrypractice. A

Certain details of my novel form of rotor support are best shown inFigures 6, 7, and 8 wherein it may fbe noted that the outer perimeter isformed with a serrated edge with equally spaced smooth wedge shaped lugs66, 68 defined by intervening slots 16, 16, the wedge shape of said lugsand slots being such as to afford a firm grip on .the metal which may becast therearound as already described. The smooth bell-shape of theplate portion of the support member 2 is well illustrated at 6, 6 in thesectional views of Figure 7 and 8, and Figure 8 illustrates the sectionthrough`the central portion of the lug 62 before drilling thereof forthe securing studs. The section of Figure 7 is taken centrally througha. slot 66 between adjacent lugs 62. As viewed in Figure 6, the lugs 62,62 together with the intermediate relieved portions 12, 12 adjacent therespective slots 66, 66 define a scallop-like formainner edges of theblades 20. 2 may be arcuately 75' tion of the inner perimeter of thesupport member 2. The viewof Figure 6 is taken from the inboard face ofthe rotor support whereas the view of Figure l is'taken from theoutboard face thereof. In the view of Figure 6. the securing lugs 52. l2are illustrated undrilled. It will be recognized that said lugs may bedrilled at varied diameters to accommodate different wheel hubs.

When my novel form of rotor is applied in the manner as illustratedinFigure 3, the relatively wide space between the blade portion of thesuptered, it may be desirable to utilize a modified form of rotor suchas illustrated in Figure 5 wherein the oppositely disposed frictionplates |02 and IOI may be joined by equally spaced blades |06, |08, saidblades thus forming substantially solid columns between said plates forequal distribution of stressvincurred by pressure. applied at surfaces|08 'and ||0 in a manner similar to that of the previous modification.In this modification however, the supporting portion of the rotor may`have a ring-like member ||2 of general V-section having a connection at||4 centrally of its inner perimeter to the rotor support in a mannersimilar to that described for the previous modification. said ring H2having a relatively shallow depth as compared with the friction plates|02 and |04. In this modification the air intake from the inboard andoutboard sides of the rotor may be as illustrated by the curved arrows Mand N but in'this case it is contemplated that the total air intal-refrom "M will be somewhat less than that from N." and it will benecessary to equalize the two in some manner to afford equal heatdissipation from the respective inboard and outboard friction plates |02and |04. This will be accomplished in the structure illustrated inFigure 5 bythe turbulence which will result in the mixture of the airfrom the intakes at M and "N, said turbulence reducing somewhat thespeed of flow of the air in thespaces between adjacent blades |06, |08and so permitting substantially equal heat dissipation from therespective friction plates.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exactembodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustrationand not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, ofcourse, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: l. A composite brake rotor structure comprising a centralsupport casting of bell-like formwith wheel connecting means at one sidethereof,`

and a serrated perimeter at the opposite side thereof, a rotor-blowerelement cast on said serrated perimeter, said element comprising spacedannular friction plates, and blades equiangularly arranged around theperimeter of said rotor and integrally formed with said plates, eachof'sald blades forming acolumn between the opposed friction plates forresistance of pressures applied thereto, and a central ring-like supportmember` integrally formed with Bald Plates ind bldes 8nd having imbeddedtherein said serrated perimeter,

said ring-like support member having a radial depth substantially equalto the radial depth of said friction plates whereby said rotor isdivided into independent blower portions, one of said blower portionsbeing operative to discharge air from one side of said rotor structureand the other of said blower portions operative to discharge air fromthe opposite side thereof.

2. Av composite brake rotor structure comprising a support casting ofbell-like form with wheel connecting means at one side thereof. and aserrated perimeter at the opposite side thereof. a rotor element cast onsaid serrated perimeter, said rotor element comprising spaced annularfriction plates. and blades equiangularly arranged aroundv the perimeterof said'rotor and integrally formed with said plates, each of saidblades forming a column between the opposed friction plates forresistance of pressures applied thereto, and a central ring-like supportmember integrally formed withsaid plates andblades and having imbeddedtherein said serrated perimeter, said ring-like support member having varelatively shallow radial depth as compared with said friction plates topermit maximum turbulence of the air currents received through saidrotor member from opposite sides of said support casting.

3. A composite brake rotor structure comprising a central supportcasting of bell-like form with wheel connecting means at one sidethereof, and a serrated perimeter at the opposite side thereof, a rotorelement cast on said serrated perimeter, said rotor element comprisingspaced annular friction plates, and blades equiangularly arranged aroundthe perimeter of said rotor and integrally formed with said plates, eachof said blades forming a column between the opposed friction plates forresistance of pressures applied thereto. and a central ring-like supportmember integrally formed with said plates and blades and having imbeddedtherein said serrated perimeter, said ring-like support member having aradial depth substantially equal to the radial depth of said frictionplates whereby said rotor is divided into independent substantiallyequal blower portions.

4. In a combination brake rotor andVv blower structure, a central dischaving at its small diameter end wheel connecting means and at its largediameter end an annular flange, a rotor-blower element cast on saidflange and comprising spaced friction plates of annular form and anintermediate support plate, said support plate having said flangeimbedded in its inner perimeter, and radial blades integrally formedwith all of said plates and equiangularly spaced about the circumferenceof said element, said blades at opposite sides of said element lying inco-planar pairs with the blades of each pair forming a continuous columnfrom one friction plate to the other v through said support plate.

5. In a brake rotor, a bell-like support casting having a hub portionwith a bore defined by an annular flange forming a means of concentricconnection to a supporting wheel, said casting means at opposite sideso: said rotor. said sup- Port platebeing cast on said serratedperimeter. said blades being arranged in pairs at opposite sides of saidrotor, each of said pairs defining a column extending between saidfriction plates.

6. A composite brake rotor structure comprising a central casting ofbell-like form with wheel connecting means at one side thereof, and aserratedv perimeter at the opposite' side thereof, a rotor element caston said serrated perimeter, said rotor element comprising spaced annularfriction plates, and blades equiangularly arranged around the perimeterof said rotor and integrally formed with said Plates. each of saidblades forming a column between the opposed friction plates forresistance of pressures applied thereto, and a central ring-like supportmember integrally formed with saidv plates and blades and havingimbedded therein said serrated perimeter. '7.*In a combination brakerotor and blower structure, a bell-like support member having nat itssmall diameter end wheel connecting means and at its large diameter enda serrate per-l 8. In a combination brake rotor and blower.'

structure, a central disc of bell-like form having at its small diameterend wheel connecting means and at its large diameter en d a serrateflange. a rotor-blower element cast on said flange and comprising spacedfriction plates of annular form and an intermediate support plate, saidsupport plate having said flange imbedded in its inner perimeter, andradialk blades' integrally formed with all of said plates andequiangularly spaced about the circumference of said element, saidintermediate plate having a radial depth substantially equal to that ofsaid friction plates thus dividing said element into blower portions atopposite sides thereof for circulating a cooling medium'for dissipationof heat from said respective friction plates.

9.- In a brake rotor, a bell-like support casting having a hub portionwith a bore defined by Yis an annular flange forming a means ofconcentric connection'to a supporting wheel, said casting having aserrated outer perimeter affording vsupport for an associated rotormember, said rotor member comprising spaced annular friction plates andvan intermediate support plate with radially arranged blades Joiningsaid sup port plate with the respective friction plates to define blowermeans at opposite sides of said rotor, said support plate beingconnected to said serrated perimeter.

10. In a brake rotor, a central support having a hub arranged forconcentric connection to a supporting wheel, `a combination frictionrotor and blower casting lcomprising a pair of annular frictionI plateswith a centrally located supporting plate and a plurality of radiallyarranged blades dening columns between said plates, said rotor andblower casting being cast about the outer perimeter of said support withthe support imbedded in the central supporting plate.-

1l. In a brake rotor, at least three substantially parallel annularplate members. blade means extending between said members, and sup-yport means for said rotor connected to an inter mediate member, all ofsaid members being of sibstantially the same inner andouter diame ers.

12. In a brake rotor, at least three substantially parallel platemembers, an opening in an outer plate member, blade means extendingbetween said members, and support means for said rotor extending throughsaid opening and joining an intermediate member, all of said membersbeing of substantially the same outer diameter.

13. In a brake rotor, three substantially parallel annular plates, blademeans extending therebetween, a hub member joining the intermediateplate, the other plates having outer diameters substantially as great asthat of said intermediate plate and presenting friction sur-- faces ontheir remote surfaces.

. 14. In a brake rotor, three substantially parallel annular plates.blade means extending therebetween. a hub member joining theintermediate plate. the other plates having outer diameters,substantially as great as that of said intermediate plate andpresenting friction surfaces on their remote surfaces,y the thickness ofsaid other plates being at least equal to that of said intermediateplate.

CARL E. TACK.

